The besieged Gaza Strip is facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis as winter floods have displaced at least 100,000 Palestinian civilians, according to Oxfam’s Gaza representative. The announcement, made on 9 November, comes as the ongoing Israeli siege continues to severely restrict the entry of essential aid, shelter materials, and heavy machinery needed to respond to the disaster.

“Severe flooding has displaced around 100,000 people in Gaza. Israel is restricting access to shelter materials and has rendered 65 percent of Gaza off-limits. People have no safe place to go,” said Wassem Mushtaha, Oxfam’s Gaza representative, on Monday.

The flooding has overwhelmed tent encampments and makeshift shelters across the territory, destroying the few remaining possessions of families already uprooted by nearly 14 months of relentless warfare. Thousands of tents have been completely inund’s Ministry of Social Development, leaving families exposed to freezing temperatures and waterborne diseases.

Mushtaha directly linked the worsening humanitarian conditions to Israel’s military campaign and siege, which he characterized as an ongoing genocide. “Israel’s ongoing genocide has resulted in the near collapse of all functioning systems in Gaza,” he said. “Governments must insist that Israel allows for unimpeded access to recovery and repair materials to restore essential infrastructure and ensure Palestinian-led reconstruction efforts across Gaza.”

He stressed that the current situation is not merely a crisis of displacement, but a deliberate collapse of life-sustaining systems. “Urgent access to aid and supplies, including spare parts, engine oil, pipes, and heavy machinery, is needed to avoid more people killed this winter,” Mushtaha added.

With winter rains expected to intensify in the coming weeks, aid agencies warn that the death toll from exposure and disease could rise sharply unless Israel immediately lifts restrictions on the entry of generators, fuel, waterproofing materials, and sanitation equipment. Without these items, the cycle of displacement, deprivation, and death will continue to accelerate.